Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher Service, Sunday, Sermons Cris Escher

[Sunday] The Staff- Missio Dei

God came into the world not in power but as a baby born in poverty. When God set his people apart, he did not find a powerful ruler but a man who had no son. When God looked for a new king, he picked the one that was left in the field. And when God was asked how "How will they know I came from you?" He said, "Bring your staff, Moses."

God came into the world not in power but as a baby born in poverty. When God set his people apart, he did not find a powerful ruler but a man who had no son. When God looked for a new king, he picked the one that was left in the field. And when God was asked how "How will they know I came from you?" He said, "Bring your staff, Moses."

Questions for the week

  1. What causes you to groan in life? What is your staff of Moses?

  2. Read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.   What does a ministry of reconciliation look like in your life?

  3. Focusing on verse 21, what assurance do you have from Jesus in the middle of groans and sins of life?

  4. How might you encourage someone in the groans of life?



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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[Sunday] The Reset - Missio Dei

The head Pharisee yelled at the guard for not capturing Jesus, “Has the whole world gone after Him?" Frustrated, this head Pharisee desperately needed a win, but not just a win; winning was his entire goal, and that goal blinded him to the heart of God in the world. We are no different. We need a reset.

The head Pharisee yelled at the guard for not capturing Jesus, “Has the whole world gone after Him?" Frustrated, this head Pharisee desperately needed a win, but not just a win; winning was his entire goal, and that goal blinded him to the heart of God in the world. We are no different. We need a reset.

Questions for the week

  1. Think of a time when you took wanting to win too far.  How did that affect you and the relationships around you?

  2. Read John 8:21-20.  Jesus speaks of “being lifted up.”  What does this mean?  Why would that be divisive?

  3. As you read through the gospel of John, how does Nicodemus understand what it means that Jesus is lifted up?

  4. How has Jesus reset and restored you?



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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[Sunday] Look & See - Missio Dei

We stepped out of the car all awestruck at what we were looking at. Even though all were already looking, we still encouraged each other to look and see. This is how John tells his story of hope for the creation.

Questions for the week

  1. Describe a time when you were amazed and said, “Look and see!”

  2. Read John 1:19-36. Who are the priests and levites looking to see? How does John the Baptist point them to someone even greater?

  3. Like John the Baptist, how can you help prepare the way for people to see Jesus as the “Lamb of God” and the “Son of God?”

  4. How is your life influenced by looking and seeing that Jesus is the Savior and King of the World?



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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[Sunday] Famous Expectations - Missio Dei

We can sure be nasty when our expectations are not met. But would you throw someone off a cliff if they failed to meet your famous expectations? Let's see how God creates a new creation outside of our famous expectations.

Questions for the week

  1. The people of Nazareth thought they were entitled to receive Jesus’ gracious words and deeds because they were his friends and relatives. What things cause us to feel entitled to receive God’s grace and mercy?  How do we counteract that sense of entitlement?

  2. Read Luke 4:14-30.  Nazareth was a thoroughly Jewish community.  As such, the people labored non-stop to keep themselves pure from spiritual uncleanliness of the Gentile world surrounding them.  Their penchant for personal purity, however, blinded them to God’s compassion for the world and their participation in his mission.  How do we do similar things today that get in the way of our participation in God’s mission to the world?

  3. How has Jesus liberated you to serve in his mission?  Who might you bring this Good News of Jesus to this week?



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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[Sunday] Feather In The Wind - Missio Dei

It seems like chaos as Jesus is arrested. It’s like He’s a feather in the wind, being blown around into beatings and shame with a crown of thorns placed on his head. But what if the wind is not chaos but more like a cloud in the wilderness?

Questions for the week

  1. How have you seen God work in the middle of chaos in your life?

  2. Read John 12:27-36 (and John 18 and 19 for extra credit). How do you see God in control at all times, even in chaos?

  3. How can we be more effective as witnesses in presenting the cross as a sign that God is in control of the chaos?


Bollywood Remake of Forrest Gump Trailer

Opening Scene From Forrest Gump Featuring the Feater


What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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[Sunday] Constant Christmas - Missio Dei

Just like our favorite gifts we have received at Christmas, God's gift of the Messiah is a better gift than Peter could ever have imagined.

Questions for the week

  1. Describe a time when you’ve misunderstood Jesus or a teaching of His.

  2. If someone were to ask you “Who is Jesus?”, how would you answer?

  3. Read Matthew 16:13-20. How does Peter appear to get it all correct but also get it all wrong about Jesus at the same time?  

  4. How does knowing that Jesus came even for “the Peters” of the world, give you hope?  



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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[Sunday] I Am Sending - Missio Dei

Jesus breathes that same spirit that hovered over the waters of creation, that same breath that animated and bright life into Adam's nostrils, that same wind that hit the church and put all over us that same mission of bringing life and beauty to everywhere we go.

Questions for the week

  1. How "Sent by Christ" do you feel? That is, how aware are you each day that Christ has sent you on His mission to proclaim the forgiveness of sins?

  2. What does it mean to you that the risen Christ came back for Thomas? What does this say about Jesus, about Thomas, about you?

  3. As a mission-hearted Christian, give your best answer to the question, “Where do you come from?”



What Had happened at Grace this week. 

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Missio dei: The Heart of God (Teaching Series)

From the beginning, God has been sending his spirit out to bring life and beauty in the universe. It's a great sending. In this sending, we can see the heart of God as we join in with God’s mission.

From the beginning, God has been sending his spirit out to bring life and beauty in the universe. It's a great sending. In this sending, we can see the heart of God as we join in with God’s mission.

Here is the amazon link for the book we are using.


Reading Plan
Read around the readings for Sunday

  • 7/24/22

    • Acts 2:14a 22-321
      Peter 1:3-9
      John 20:16-24

  • 7/31/22

    • Malachi 3:1-5
      Hebrews 3:1-6
      Matthew 16:13-20

  • 8/7/22

    • Numbers 21:5-9
      1 Corinthians 1:18-25
      John 12:27-36

  • 8/14/22

    • Isaiah 61:1-4
      Galatians 4:4-7
      Luke 4:16-24

  • 8/21/22

    • Isaiah 40:1-5
      Hebrews 10:11-18
      John 1:29-348

  • /28/22

    • Isaiah 53:4-12
      1 John 4:9-16
      John 8:21-30

  • 9/4/22

    • Psalm 103:8-19
      2 Corinthians 5:11-21
      John 14:1-6

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